Wrench.



I Patented Dec. 24, I901. J. R. HDUTS.

WRENCH.

(Application fllad Dec. 26, 1899.)

. (No Model.)

fwv

UNITE STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOHN R. HOUTS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,806, dated December24, 1901.

Application filed December 26, 1899i. Serial No. 741,638. (No modela) ITo all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. Hours, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Washington,in the District of Oolumbia,have invented certainnew and useful Improve ments in Nut-Wrenches for Bicycles, &c., of

which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a light, cheap, and simplewrench which is highly efficient for bicycle and similar purposes.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal centralsectional View of a wrench embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the same.

The hollow cylindrical barrel A of the wrench is of suitable length anddiameter, is open at both ends, as at a b, has a slot B on its upperside, communicating with its interior, and is provided at its outer endwith the head or jaw G, which latter is of the usual form. A sliding jawD is placed on the barrel and is formed with a spline E, which entersthe slot B and extends slightly into the barrel, as shown.

G represents a screw-shank which fits in and extends through the barreland is provided with the screw-thread H, which engages a similar threadI, made in the inner side of the spline, so that by turning thescrewshank the jaw C may be moved back or forth upon the barrel, as willbe readily understood. The handle Kis secured to the outer end of thescrew-shank, and its inner end is provided with a cylindrical recess L,which forms a socket to receive the end of the barrel, as shown.

When the parts of the wrench are assembled, the outer-end of thescrew-shank extends to the outer end of the barrel, and said screw-shankis then secured against being withdrawn therefrom by a swivel-screw Mand washer N. A longitudinal groove 0 is made in one side of thescrew-shank, which extends throughout the entire length thereof andinterrupts the screw-thread thereon, this groove being of suitable sizeto receive the projecting end of the spline on the movable wrenchjaw,and thereby when the screwshank is turned so as to cause the groove tocoincide with the said spline the movable jaw is free to be moved backand forth upon the barrel without turning the screw, hence enabling thesaid movable jaw to be quickly adjusted by hand. By then turning thescrewshank by means of its handle the screw thread thereon by engagingwith the screw thread on the spline will move the jaw D suf ficiently tocause the nut or other object on which the wrench is being used to befirmly grasped and compressed between the heads or jaws of the wrench. 1

To add to the efficiency of my improved wrench and provide a combinedtool which will suffice also for the"'purposes of a screwdriver, I-provide the handle K with a central cylindrical opening P, which isinteriorly threaded for a suitable distance, and provide a screw-driverR, which is adapted to be re= ceived into said opening, the shank of thescrew driver extending into a cylindrical opening S, made in thescrew-shank to re' ceive it. The screw-driver is provided near its headwith screw-threads,w hich engage the threaded interior of the handle K,and thereby the screw-driver may be securely held in place in the wrenchwhen not in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The wrench comprising thefixed head, the hollow barrel extending therefrom, and having thelongitudinal slot in one side, in. combination with the sliding jaw orhead, on said barrel, and having the spline in the said slot, and thescrew-shank, swiveled in the barrel, engaging the said spline, andhaving the handle at one end, the said screw-shank having thelongitudinal groove on one side, interrupting the screw-threads thereon,and adapted to receive the spline, for the purpose set forth,substantially as described.

2. In a wrench, the .combination'of a hollow barrel having alongitudinal slot, a fixed head on said barrel, a sliding jaw or head onsaid barrel and having a spline operating in the slot therein, andascrew-shank revolu-' ble in the barrel and secured against endwisemovement therein, said screw-shank engaging the spline on the slidingjaw or head and having a longitudinal groove interrupting thescrew-threads thereon and adapted to receive the said spline,substantially as described.

Signed at Washington, District of Columbia, this'llth day of November,1899, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN R. HOUTS.

Witnesses J. W. GARNER, ARTHUR BROWNING.

